Did you hear? The Vikings' offseason in 50 quotes

The Vikings will report to training camp Thursday at Minnesota State University in Mankato, the official beginning to the 2012 preseason. And just to bring you up to speed with everything that's happened since the final snap of the 2011 season, here are 50 quotes to sum up the action since New Year's Day.

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"In departing this locker room, I just expressed my appreciation for the fight our guys showed throughout the year. With as difficult as this season has been and with the number of close losses we've had, [it was encouraging] for them to show the resolve they have shown." – Head coach Leslie Frazier on Jan. 1 after a 17-13 home loss to the Bears gave the Vikings a 3-13 record for the 2011 season

"It's an exciting day. It really is. 2011-12 is over. It was miserable record-wise, so I'm glad it's over. We can start building for the future now." – Defensive end Jared Allen on Jan. 2, as the Vikings closed the books on 2011 and headed into the offseason

"Relieved. We can finally close this book up and throw it in the trash." – Receiver Percy Harvin, echoing Allen's sentiments

"Our ownership, our head coach, our coaching staff, all the people involved in this decision process will get a voice to say what they think. The difference will be when we make our personnel decisions and when we go forward I will have the final authority on what that decision is going to be." – Rick Spielman, upon being promoted from vice president of player personnel to general manager

"The general manager's role allows the franchise to look at goals in a more longer-term vision. Because they realize that the long term puts the franchise on solid footing. I think that's the major aspect of having this structure; it's for the franchise to really give long-term stability to this organization." – Owner Zygi Wilf, explaining Spielman's promotion

"I would think what I do best is to be able to develop a young player and have him at a winning level early in his career. And when I say early, I mean in the first part of his career, the first year. … What I did in Indianapolis was I developed the young players so that when a veteran was out, a young player could hold down the fort and play winning football until that veteran, until the starter came back." – Alan Williams, hired to be the Vikings' new defensive coordinator after 10 years as a defensive backs coach In Indianapolis

"In 2012, as we're putting this together, I really want to be involved in what we're doing and how we're playing things. I really want to make sure we're headed in the right direction … I don't want to say I want to take [the defense] over, now. I don't want to do that. I don't think it would serve me very well to immerse myself to the point where I can't oversee some of the things I need to see." – Frazier, immediately after Williams' hiring, acknowledging his desire to have a hand in how things are run

"He's a fiery guy. I like that about him. He's going to get after our butts. He gets really excited. Some coaches might be more reserved. But he'll get really fired up when you make a good play or even a bad play. That'll be a different element that will hopefully be good for us." – Defensive tackle Kevin Williams, on the hiring of Brendan Daly to be the new defensive line coach. Daly had previous been an assistant d-line coach for the Vikings from 2006-08

"The fact that we get a chance to get our hands on the players is huge. We get to talk with them, spend time with them, eat in the cafeteria with them, talk to them about their lifestyle. It will be immeasurable the time that we'll be able to be around them and be able to evaluate these players." – Frazier, on the Vikings' opportunity to coach the North squad at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. There the Vikings worked closely with safety Harrison Smith and linebacker Audie Cole, players they drafted in April.

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"The payments here are particularly troubling because they involved not just payments for performance, but also for injuring opposing players. The bounty rule promotes two key elements of NFL football: player safety and competitive integrity. It is our responsibility to protect player safety and the integrity of our game, and this type of conduct will not be tolerated." -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, dropping the bombshell that a league investigation turned up an organized bounty program within the Saints organization. The investigation also revealed that Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was allegedly a target during the NFC Championship game in 2010.

"This is troubling to me as a human being. Football is a violent game. Guys get hurt all the time. But you want to be out there with the comfort that other guys aren't purposely out trying to injure you. At that point, you're not safe." – Punter Chris Kluwe, on the revelations of the Saints' bounty program

"There needs to be strong punishment any time a coach or a player thinks they can take someone else's career into their own hands and purposely do something that could end it. We all play hard. But to give bonuses for carting someone off the field? Man, that's just wrong. There's no place for that in the NFL, and I think it's now safe to say you won't be hearing about bounties in the NFL ever again." – Allen, responding to Goodell's crackdown on the Saints in response to the discovered bounty program

"The only thing bigger is being in God's kingdom. I'll tell you that I'm totally blown away by this and just so humbled by it." – Former Vikings star Chris Doleman, on being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February

"Is the left tackle that important or is it more important to have playmakers on offense? Because when your quarterback evolves, he learns the system, he gets the ball out of his hand quicker and all of a sudden that left tackle doesn't need to be a Pro Bowl left tackle. He can be a functional left tackle … That's the burning bush question. Is it more important to get a left tackle or is it more important to get the playmakers around [Ponder]?" – Spielman, when asked at the combine to assess his interest in Southern Cal left tackle Matt Kalil

"Watching my film and going back, there are so many blatantly dumb mistakes that are easily correctable. That's the kind of thing that makes me excited about next year, realizing how easy it is to change certain things. It's just going to make me a lot better and put our team in a much better position to be successful." – Ponder, assessing his rookie year struggles

"It was a tough decision as we move forward and prepare for the upcoming season and the future of our organization. All three individuals have meant a great deal to the Vikings organization both on and off field over the years. We wish all of them the best and thank them for their service to the Minnesota Vikings." – Frazier, commenting on the release of veterans Steve Hutchinson, Anthony Herrera and Cedric Griffin, the initial roster transactions that set the Vikings' youth movement in motion.

"Adversity introduces a man to himself. This was definitely an adverse situation and I learned a lot about myself. I control my destiny. My actions control who I am and what I become in the future." – Cornerback Chris Cook in March, immediately after he was acquitted of all charges in his felony domestic assault trial

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"We have thoroughly considered Chris' situation and how he has approached this matter. We will meet with Chris in the near future and believe he deserves the opportunity to rejoin our organization." – Statement from the Vikings on Cook's acquittal

"I wouldn't have come back here if I didn't think the Vikings had a great thing going and a chance to be really special on the offensive side of the ball. That's something I want to be a part of." – Tight end John Carlson, the Vikings' biggest free agent acquisition this offseason

"Just give us time to put this roster together. We're not only putting it together for 2012. We're building this roster to be able to maintain it for over the next three to four to five years … I don't think we're a player or two away to go out and spend the money that's being spent on all those players that have gotten contracts early." – Spielman, explaining the organization's conservative approach in free agency

"We're fully aware of what's around the country in terms of stadiums around the league. We believe we have some of the best fans in the NFL. And we want them to have the kind of first-rate experience other cities have." – Vikings owner Mark Wilf, speaking at the NFL owners meetings with pleas for the franchise to get full approval for a new stadium

"He's just what the doctor ordered for the Viking offense. He's an explosive guy who can really adjust and adapt to the football. And it's really fun watching him after the catch, which is a skill he demonstrated for the whole league last year when he was with Cincinnati." – Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, after the Vikings signed free agent receiver Jerome Simpson

"Everyone thinks you're crazy if you don't take the left tackle." – Star Tribune columnist Sid Hartman, to Spielman at a press conference the week before the NFL Draft

"We saw [Kalil] as a guy who could be a Pro Bowler for a long time. That was obvious from our standpoint. Along with what we're trying to do with our quarterback. We wanted to make sure we do the things that are necessary to ensure that he has success. This gives us a chance to take that step in that direction." – Frazier, immediately after the Vikings drafted Kalil

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"Going to Notre Dame and being a captain, you're already on a big stage. Then once you're the captain you're getting scrutinized win or lose. There are ups and downs along the road. So I have dealt with being a leader of a team that's gone through things. Knowing how to deal with guys and helping younger guys interact with the coaches, I think it's just given me a whole lot of experience you can't really find in any other role." Safety Harrison Smith, after being drafted in the first round by the Vikings

"Our theme was getting smart, tough football players who love to play the game. And I think all these guys we were able to draft fit that bill." – Spielman, after completing the draft with 10 new rookies added to the team

"I love Adrian. But let's make this clear: I'm still not going to be quoted as saying he's going to play in the first game. That's not fair. I don't know that … He'll keep throwing that [Sept. 9 date] out there. And good for him. That's great. That's obviously our goal, to get him playing the first game. But only if he's functionally safe to do it. This is our franchise. We can't be foolish about this." – Vikings head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman, assessing Adrian Peterson's rehab progress in May and the running back's much-publicized goal to be back at full strength for Week 1

"Attitude is critical with this. If you're not really stable with who you are, an injury like this can be a huge blow to your ego. You're the king of the hill, then all of a sudden – uh-oh. But Adrian? He's been energetic since the day I met him." – Russ Paine, Peterson's Houston-based rehab therapist, asserting the keys to the rehab process

"It wasn't anything like, 'Aw, man. Here it goes.' It was more of an 'Alright, let's go. Let's get to work.' … [I plan to work with Matt Kalil] quite a bit. You're going to take time out. Again, it's a new face. And along the offensive line, the whole thing is to work in synch and work together … My skill set is for playing football. I wouldn't say that I have a skill set for guard or I have a skill set for tackle. I feel like I have a skill set to play offensive line and play football." – Offensive lineman Charlie Johnson, expressing his willingness to move from left tackle to left guard following the Vikings' addition of Kalil

"I don't think there's any question that if this doesn't get done this year, the league's standpoint is it starts back at Square 1 next year, And what's going to change? And if nothing is going to change, you are going to have political dynamics changing. You're going to have lots of different people nominating different sites ... These things cost millions and millions of dollars just to get it to this point. What would be the justification for doing it again on the part of the Vikings?" – Eric Grubman, NFL executive vice president of business operations, expressing frustration and fears of what might happen if the Vikings push for a new stadium didn't gain approval during the legislative session

"I think it's time for the Vikings to win a Super Bowl. And we need a new stadium so we can do that here in Minneapolis." – Ponder, speaking at the state capitol, as the Vikings' stadium saga reached its critical stage

"If the thought is I'm going to support an inadequate bonding bill or a terrible tax policy approach in order to get a stadium, then we're going to have to sit down and rethink [things] -- by we, I mean the entire House." – State representative Terry Morrow, a leading Vikings stadium supporter, commenting on the political complications involved in the organization's push for a new stadium.

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"We're here to stay, guys. … We knew from Day One that we were going to fight in making sure that this day would come. Our commitment to having Minnesota Vikings football here for generations was always the overriding factor to making sure that got done. And I'm happy that everyone stepped forward to getting that done." – Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, after the bill to get a new stadium in downtown Minneapolis was finalized and approved

"Uhhhh, I'm not familiar with names yet … When you go 3-13, it happens. This is a business and hopefully change will be good. We have a lot of young guys hungry to compete." – Veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield, during the Vikings' first week of organized team activities, assessing all the new faces around him in the secondary

"Anybody that witnessed that play today, you've got to get jacked up. That was an incredible play and one of the reasons we get excited about him. We're hoping to see that on Sunday afternoons, plays like that." – Frazier, during the second week of OTAs, reacting to a much-talked-about circus catch that Simpson made over Cook on a deep route up the right sideline

"I'll put it this way, it's a lot of different things that have to be sorted out. Just haven't been too happy lately. So we've got a couple things to work on." – Receiver Percy Harvin, delivering a surprise revelation at mini-camp that he was unhappy. Soon after, Harvin and his agent requested a trade

"The Minnesota Vikings have no interest at all in trading Percy Harvin. We drafted Percy Harvin here. He's a key part of our organization, he's a key part of our football team and any issues that are out there or reported, we always handle those internally and we'll continue to handle those internally." – Spielman, addressing Harvin's unhappiness and his trade request

"The Vikings are aware of the situation and working to gather more detail. We will have no further comment at this time." – Statement from the Vikings after it was learned in early July that Peterson had been arrested at a nightclub in Houston. The Vikings also had a near-identical version of that statement dusted off five weeks earlier when running back Jerome Felton was arrested and charged with driving while impaired. Five weeks before that running back Caleb King was arrested after allegedly fracturing another man's skull in an assault outside of a party

"The officer told Peterson that he was under arrest, but Peterson began yelling, struggling as the officer attempted to put on handcuffs and ignoring commands to stop resisting, [according to Houston police spokesperson Kese Smith]. Peterson pulled away from the officer 'and assumed a violent stance,' Smith said. A second officer working security at the club began to assist, but it took a third police officer also working security to detain the 6-foot-1, 217-pound Peterson." – excerpt from Star Tribune report documenting Peterson's arrest with details from the Houston police

"'A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.' WC" – Tweet from Peterson, quoting Winston Churchill, the day after his arrest.

"Adrian Peterson did not resist arrest this past Saturday morning and any suggestion that he pushed, struck or shoved a Houston Police Officer is a total fabrication. He, in fact, was struck at least twice in the face for absolutely no legitimate reason, and when all the evidence is impartially reviewed, it will clearly show Adrian was the victim, not the aggressor." – Rusty Hardin, Peterson's high-powered attorney, issuing his first statement on his client's arrest